Minor in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics

The Minor in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics offers undergraduate students a guiding framework within which to engage in the multi-disciplinary study of a single set of inter-related questions that concern the proper role of the government, especially with regard to organizing, regulating, taxing, or outlawing economic activity. Addressing such questions requires appeal not only to normative principles—the province of moral and political philosophy—but also to the theory and practice of how both political and economic institutions of different kinds actually work—the provinces of political science and economics. Multi-disciplinary study promises to provide a valuable corrective to the neglect of something in another discipline. The proposed minor will help students to avoid the limitations of a single discipline. The PPE minor will serve students wishing to pursue careers in politics, public service, or policy-making, as well as all those aspiring to thoughtful citizenship.

Students who complete the Minor in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics should be able to:

  • Identify the philosophical principles (e.g., of justice) that underlie different views—both their own and others'—of the proper role of the government, especially in economic life;
  • Identify assumptions regarding the actual working of political and economic institutions that underlie different views—both their own and others'—of the proper role of the government, especially in economic life;
  • Apply relevant philosophical principles to evaluate public policy proposals, especially in economic life;
  • Apply relevant knowledge of the actual working of political and economic institutions to evaluate public policy proposals, especially in economic life.

Requirements

A minor in philosophy, politics, and economics consists of a total of 18 credits.

A minor consists of at least 15 credits, including at least 6 credits numbered 2000 or above. Nine of the required credits must be taken in MU course work. This requirement can be reduced from 9 to 6 at the discretion of an individual department. Students must meet the minimum GPA requirements for a minor, which in no case can be lower than 2.0. In addition, a student cannot receive a grade lower than a C- in any course applied towards a minor in the College. For more information, please see Requirements for Optional Minor.

Required Courses
PHIL 2450Philosophy, Politics, and Economics3
ECONOM 1014Principles of Microeconomics3
POL_SC 1100American Government3
Elective Courses
Choose three courses in at least two of the three disciplines.
ABM 3230Agricultural and Rural Economic Policy3
ABM 4990Economic Analysis of Policy and Regulation3
ECONOM 3367Law and Economics3
ECONOM 4315Public Economics3
ECONOM 4340Introduction to Game Theory3
ECONOM 4776Economic History of the United States3
POL_SC 4320Public Policy3
POL_SC 4370Law, Policy, and Regulation3
PHIL 2420Ethical Issues in Business3
PHIL 2600Game Theory and Rational Decisions3
PHIL 4600Justice, Rights, and the State: An Introduction to Political Philosophy3

In addition, other courses may count toward the PPE Minor as electives with the special permission of the PPE Minor Coordinator if the courses can be justified by reference to a special interest of the student.